Honest question no offense intended. Is the using the word "*****" when refering to someones race offensive?

Question

Serious question. It seems African-American is the most popular and PC term today but most of my fellow Americans of this race are no more "African" than I am European. Sometimes the terms black and white are used but actually actually we're varying shades of brown. I'm considered Caucasian or Caucasoid so I was curious if refering to someone as ***** or ******* was offensive.

Answer 1

I don't see how, it's a Latin root which simply means ' black '. What's offensive about that? Confusing, maybe, for me. I'm an artist. I work with color. Having a conversation with someone who's ' black ' but really what I see is Burnt or Raw Umber! Really throws me for a loop. Then, can you see explaining; " No, you're not really black. I see a lot of Iron Oxide Red, with a tad of Ivory Black or, in your case - Burnt Sienna, definitely, maybe a tad Caput Mortuum. " So, for expedience sake I say, yes. You're black ", and relegate it to Academia!

Answer 2

I personally find it offensive that in 2006, fellow Americans can't refer to me as a fellow American, but my German cousin (who is also of African descent) is referred to and accepted as a German -- point blank and period. But, for whatever reason, Americans still rely on this kind of separation.

Now as to your question: ***** is soooo 40 years ago. If anything, I think that is what truly offends. In America, Negroes were the more immediate descendents of slaves, second-class citizens relegated to living life under second-class conditions because of long-standing, inherently racist social infrastructure. After the achievements of the Civil Rights movements, in a time when most Americans want to believe that circumstances ARE different for Black Americans, why WOULD we want to be referred to as Negroes? It is offensive for the same reason that many 'white' people are offended should a 'black' person call them out on their possible slave-owning history -- it's offensive because that's not who we are.

As for the Caucasoid denotation, it's really convenient and all but only truly refers to 'white' people whose origins can be traced to those peoples who lived in and around the Caucasus Mountain range area. Many 'white' people don't fit that description.

But to get to the heart of the question, focus on what not to call us. It's a lot easier. *****, ******, nigra, nigganese, 'the blacks', them, spooks, spades, jigaboos...you know. For the most part, Black, Black American, African- or Afro-American, American (or our names, perhaps) should do it. Then again, you could just ask the 'black' people you know personally.

It's difficult, I know. In a society where there has been much (too much) value assigned to race and where one has to remain vigilantly p.c. so as not to offend anyone else's sensibilities, WHAT DO YOU DO? What else do we have to racially classify ourselves but 'black' or 'white' or whatever else? But my question is this: after so much SCIENTIFIC research has rendered us all practically the same GENETICALLY, why SHOULD we classify ourselves so? Within the 'races' there are many different cultures and ethnicities. When is it going to come down to who can make the money and who can't -- increasingly, that seems to be what it really all amounts to.

Answer 3

Well, in my opinion at least, I'd say that the term "*****" isn't bad at all. "*******" may have some complications however. If you don't mean offense, you won't offend anybody.

Dave

Answer 4

"a million : to sluggish up fantastically by utilising combating or hindering develop or accomplishment : abate 2 : to delay academic progression by utilising failure to sell" right here, there is the definition of "retard" for you. every person is popping each thing in to a derogatory term recently. you won't be in a position to blink a watch without offending somebody. Take a deep breath. relax. There are greater significant battles than this, heavily! Why do you care what people say? "STICKS AND STONES could harm MY BONES yet words will by no skill harm ME". you're in charge for letting those issues offend you. you ought to turn the different cheek and overlook approximately it. simply by fact as i've got suggested, there are greater significant issues you ought to difficulty approximately than people's determination of words.

Answer 5

nope, there isnt such a thing as an african american there are part white or part blacks, half casts
african american is a stupid pc term, there is no shame in *****, nor even the word ****** it depends on how it is used
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.my god how anal is that it edited the word n-i-g-g-e-r, it isnt teh word it is how it is used, african american can be insulting depending on how it is used

Answer 6

to me it is not offendsive and i am white and live in south florida a very diverse section and im 13 in middle school the dark kids call each other ***** not ****** but if i said that i would get jumped but they have no problem calling me white boy or cracker so no i dont think it is offensive.

Answer 7

***** should not be offensive ! But under no circumstances should anyone other than another black call anyone of colored a n.i.g.g.e.r. that is very offensive!

Answer 8

My family likes to watch the negroids on TV. Their big lips and bad speech habits make us chuckle.

Answer 9

It may be, especially since no one referrs to white people as "blanco" or what ever the spanish word for white is. Why is that? Hmmmmm......